The specific aims of this trial were to:
• understand if the crop responded differently to urea compared with Easy N (liquid nitrogen)
• define the sensitivity with which the NDVI method can detect differences in timing and rate of nitrogen application
• determine if wheat and barley respond comparatively to nitrogen type (product), timing and rate, as measured by NDVI
• quantify how the use of different nitrogen types, timing and rates influence grain yield and quality.

• A wet winter and spring during 2016 meant that nitrogen (N) applied at sowing was inefficient in meeting crop requirements during the season, due to high losses through leaching and denitrification.
• Application of nitrogen at first node (GS31) and third node (GS33) improved crop uptake, and was reflected as increased ‘greenness’ in wheat towards the end of the season, as measured by normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI).
• Using the Greenseeker® to measure NDVI in-crop was useful to determine crop responses to fertiliser treatments, and aligned well with final yield results.
• Determining crop nitrogen requirements based on in-crop NDVI readings improved the efficiency of nitrogen supply, as nitrogen was only added as needed, reducing input costs.
• For both wheat and barley there was no difference between urea and Easy N® in terms of tiller and head numbers, dry matter (DM) production, yield or grain quality parameters when comparable nitrogen application rates and timings were used.